New Orleans unleashes creative spark in Meghan March
Meghan March, author of the new Beneath These Chains, book three in her Beneath series, shares how New Orleans grabbed her imagination and helped create her Beneath series.
Meghan: For some authors, a book's setting is carefully vetted and chosen during the brainstorming process prior to writing. In the case of the Beneath series, New Orleans was not a conscious choice — it was really the only choice.
When I boarded a plane to NOLA in March of 2014, I never expected I'd be unleashing a creative spark that would keep me writing for well over a year — and counting. The idea for the Beneath series originated on that flight. I couldn't get the idea of a girl on the run, losing herself in the French Quarter, out of my head. And so it began.
I'd been to New Orleans before and had fallen in love with the city and its unique energy, but this time was just ... different somehow. I spent that entire trip wandering the Quarter and the Garden District and plotting Beneath This Mask. In between soaking up the local color and eating all of the amazing food, I dug through real estate listings, determined to find the perfect apartments and houses that would be featured in the book. I took a cooking class so I could learn how to make a real roux and kickass jambalaya — a recipe that inspired a scene in Beneath These Chains. I was so charmed by the teacher of the class that I named a character in the series after her. I shopped for hours and chatted with the girls who run my favorite dress shop, Trashy Diva, and got inspiration for Elle's wardrobe. I poked around novelty and vintage stores in the Quarter to help me visualize the fictional Dirty Dog.
New Orleans is a compelling city, and while writing the Beneath series, I find the setting almost takes on its own unique character. NOLA defies replication and demands recognition for being unlike any other place on earth. As I've gotten further into the series, I've spent hours researching different neighborhoods, their history and the unique culture inherent in each. Every time I go back, I try to expand my knowledge and firsthand experiences — but I seem to always find time to claim a bench in Jackson Square and listen to the brass bands and street performers. And if I'm lucky, I'll catch a glimpse of a wedding parade as the bride and groom strut their way through the Quarter. Not surprisingly, with each visit, I'm more and more tempted to make a permanent move there.
My last trip coincided with the Krewe Du Vieux — my very first Mardi Gras parade. Off. The. Charts. Awesome. I cannot wait until next year to get back and experience some of the other parades. At this moment, I'm not entirely sure how many books there will be in the Beneath series, but I'm dying to write one set during the craziness that is Mardi Gras season. It's yet another thing that is unique to New Orleans, a city that has defined the Beneath series and will always hold a special place in my writing and my life.
About Beneath These Chains:
I was raised on the streets, so I know things are rarely as simple as they appear—especially this rich girl showing up at my pawnshop demanding a job.
She's the most tempting thing I've ever seen, and I'll be damned if I can make her leave.
Shit just got complicated … but when it comes to her, I want complicated.
We're both fighting our own demons, and our only chance at a future is to let go of the past.
But will we be strong enough to break free from beneath these chains?
Beneath Series Reading Order:
Beneath This Mask (Beneath #1)
Beneath This Ink (Beneath #2)
Beneath These Chains (Beneath #3)
Find out more about Meghan and her books at www.meghanmarch.com.